A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) says the proliferation of illegal refineries in the country is as a result of government’s failure to address rising poverty.
The coalition said this in reaction to the fire incident which occurred at an illegal refinery in Imo state on April 22.
In a statement on Monday, the CSOs faulted the federal government for failing in its promise to stamp out illegal refineries and provide better security.
They stated that beyond the statements of condemnation and condolences, government at the state and federal level have consistently failed to diligently examine the key factors that drive the proliferation of artisanal refineries despite the exposure of their operators to fatalities.
The statement read that Artisanal refineries have grown and expanded principally because government has failed in its responsibilities to provide meaningful engagement for the people, adequately address the prevailing poverty and protect the network of oil installations in the Niger Delta region.
The CSOs also accused law enforcement agencies of granting operational permits for artisanal refiners to operate freely for a fee, but they are also known to facilitate all aspects of the operations, and in some instances, own and operate their own artisanal refineries.
While expressing concern over the proliferation of artisinal refineries, the CSOs urged the federal government to look beyond security operations and address the underlying issues of poverty that contribute to promoting such illegal activities.
